Mercedes M272 3.5L Engine Specs, Problems & Reliability

This engine appeared in 2004 as the new power unit for Mercedes-Benz SLK 350 R171. At that time, M272 series was the latest generation of V6 Mercedes engines. The 3.5-liter version came to replace the old M112 E32 and M112 E37 engines.

The M112 engine lies at the base of M272 engine design. The new motor has an aluminum cylinder block with 90-degrees angle, forged steel connecting rods and light pistons. The distance between cylinders was remained — 106 mm. The M272 engine also has a balancer shaft inside the engine block. On top of the cylinder block, there are aluminum cylinder heads with four valve per cylinder and two overhead camshafts (DOHC). The diameter of the intake valve is 39.5 mm, exhaust — 30 mm.

The M272 3.5 engine was equipped with all modern technologies out of engine development at that time. The engine got the variable valve timing system, variable geometry intake manifold, hydraulic lifters, double-strand timing chain and electronic engine control unit Bosch ME 9.7.

The M273 E46 and M273 E55 engines are the part of this one family. The new version of the M272 V6, which name is M276 DE35, came out in 2011.

Engine Specs

M272 KE/DE 35 3.5l Engine Problems and Reliability

1. Oil leaks. Check the plastic plugs of cylinder heads; perhaps they need to be replaced.
2. Intake manifold valves issue. The engine operates unstably with that problem. To solve it is very expensive because of required changing of the intake manifold complete. This problem occurs on engines until 2007.